I know people who have it in their mind they’ll get right with God at the end of their life, ask His forgiveness, and squeak into Heaven after a lifetime of sin.  Now I, for one, believe in deathbed repentance.  I believe God will and does forgive a truly repentant heart, no matter how much or little time they have left in this life.  But there are several problems with living in that philosophy, including one HUGE one – you never know when your time will be up.  Not all linger coherently on a deathbed with time to say all their goodbyes and beg for God’s mercy.  Many people die suddenly, even in their sleep, and the choice has ALREADY been made.

     How do we know the choice is already made?  Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.” (Luke 11:23).  If we have not chosen Jesus, then we, by default, have chosen the devil.   You see, there is NO middle of the road (we all know what happens to things in the middle of the road, don’t we?).  Jesus also said, “…because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:16).  A lukewarm Christian is an offensive taste in the mouth of God!!

     One of my favorite verses in the Bible is from the book of Joshua.  You’ve probably read it many times, but look at it once again… “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15).  We read this, rightly, as Joshua challenging his people and declaring openly his devotion to God.  It also shows the results of Godly leadership in the home (“and my house”, he says).  But there are two words there you might have missed : THIS DAY.  He says ‘choose THIS DAY who you will serve.’  Joshua knew there was no time to put off the decision.  He didn’t say, “go home and think about it, spend some time trying to figure it out”,,, no!  He understood the people knew the truth, and the decision had been made.  The thing is, once we have heard the gospel, we have chosen whether we want to admit it or not, even to ourselves.

There is little time left.  So what are we doing today – gathering or scattering?  There is no third choice.

Take the church to someone this week – you’ll both benefit. 

© 2008, 2009 Randall Buchanan

King’s Invitation Ministries

P.O. Box 501

Foxworth MS 39483

http://kingsinvitation.christianblogsites.com/blog/